Rent increase versus tenant retention for a Paris apartment—what am I missing?

A

AmaraCole

Landlord
Established
The €411 monthly gap is what makes this less straightforward than simply matching the market. The tenant pays about €3,454, while comparable advertisements suggest roughly €3,865, but they have also been reliable and taken good care of the apartment.

For example, even a short vacancy plus cleaning, repairs and reletting could absorb much of the extra rent. On the other hand, leaving the amount unchanged indefinitely may create a larger adjustment later. I am therefore considering a smaller increase that recognises the tenant’s record.

Before raising it with them, I plan to confirm which Paris rules apply to this lease, the permitted amount and the required notice. What lease details and genuinely comparable properties would you check before choosing the figure, and how would you present the review without damaging the relationship?
 
The gap is €411 per month. One vacant month at €3,865 would consume more than nine months of that extra income, before advertising, repairs or the risk of a less reliable replacement. I’d first establish the maximum lawful adjustment, then consider offering less than that in recognition of the tenant’s payment and care history.
 
A few missing details matter: is the apartment furnished or unfurnished, what does the lease say about rent review, when was the last adjustment, and does the €3,865 comparison reflect genuinely similar apartments? Paris rules can depend on the tenancy and property details, so I would verify the permitted amount and notice process before discussing a figure.
 
I agree about checking the rules, but I wouldn’t automatically treat retention as the overriding goal. If the rent remains well behind for several years, the eventual conversation may become much harder. A smaller, predictable adjustment now can be easier for both sides than allowing a large gap to develop—provided the tenant gets clear notice and an explanation rather than an ultimatum.
 
Maintenance history should enter the calculation too. A tenant who reports issues early, provides access and avoids unnecessary damage reduces costs that never appear in the monthly rent comparison. Before deciding, list what you actually spent during this tenancy and what would probably need refreshing if they left. That turns “good tenant” into a more concrete financial factor.
 
I’d challenge the €3,865 figure before using it as the target. An asking rent is not necessarily the amount ultimately agreed, and a visually similar listing may differ in condition, furnishings or other important details. There is also little value in modelling turnover at a rent you may not be permitted or able to obtain. Confirm both comparability and the applicable Paris limits.
 
That’s fair. I’d also keep deposit handling out of the rent discussion. If there is eventual turnover, document the apartment’s condition properly and distinguish ordinary refreshing from tenant-related issues rather than assuming the deposit will cover the work. For the present review, payment reliability, maintenance conduct and the realistic vacancy period are stronger reasons for moderation.
 
A simple way to decide is to compare scenarios over the next year: no increase; a lawful modest increase with retention; and turnover followed by reletting. For the third scenario, subtract likely vacancy and necessary work rather than counting twelve full months at €3,865. Then verify the lease terms and notice requirements locally, choose a defensible figure, and communicate it in writing with enough time for a calm response.
 
The relationship point is mostly about tone and options. Explain that you have reviewed the rent, acknowledge the tenant’s record, and present the adjustment as a measured amount rather than merely pointing to the highest listing. If the permitted increase is higher than you want to request, retaining some of that headroom can be a deliberate trade-off for continuity—not money accidentally left on the table.
 
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